Harrison 'resting after cancer surgery'

Harrison recently recorded a new song

Former Beatle George Harrison is believed to be resting after reportedly being given treatment for cancer at a New York hospital.

Harrison, 58, was reportedly given pioneering cancer treatment last week at the Staten Island University Hospital under the supervision of Dr Gil Lederman, who is known for working with very advanced cancer cases.

Harrison (left) is the youngest Beatle

Dr Lederman offers a treatment called stereotactic radiosurgery, which attempts to attack tumours with high doses of radiation but with minimal damage to surrounding tissue.

The time each treatment takes varies, depending on the size of the tumour and where it is located in the body.

The Daily Telegraph quoted hospital sources as saying that Harrison was staying there under the name of George Arrias - the maiden name of his wife Olivia.

One source was quoted as describing Harrison as "very frail and gaunt".

Harrison is an accomplished songwriter

Harrison was treated for a brain tumour this year and had previously been treated for lung cancer and throat cancer.

But recently there were signs that the musician was becoming more active again.

On 1 October he recorded with pianist Jools Holland at his Switzerland home.

Harrison wrote the track, entitled A Horse To Water, with his son Dhani.

It will appear on Jools Holland's album Small World, Big Friends, to be released in the UK on 19 November.

Harrison was angered by reports in July this year that he was preparing for death due to his illness.

He released a statement in July saying that reports he was close to death "were unsubstantiated, untrue, insensitive and uncalled for".